What is your favourite kind of workout/exercise and what are the benefits of it?

[Sallygoround631]

I am really drawn to yoga and light, ballet barre workouts. I suppose It's more 'me' and suits my personality, etc etc. I am a beginner and use the back of a chair, have just bought a yoga mat but have not started yet as I have no idea how to do it correctly and no local classes.

I admit to not getting 'Adrienne' as I cant properly see what she is doing and she goes too fast, even in the beginner video's.

What worked best for you, and what was your objective? I know resistance/strength is very popular but I've never been drawn to it. Does the workout you do bring you the benefits you wanted?

I know we are all different so I'm really interested in what works for others ? Anyone else do ballet workouts who are not dancers?

With ballet workouts and yoga I am hoping to achieve better posture and some basic all over strength and flexibility. I hope it goes well!

Snap. (Except I don't do yoga). I've been going to the gym three times a week for the past year (apart from when I had Covid) and do an hour of weights/machines each time. I have actual biceps and feel so much better about myself. Plus I can carry in the food shopping with much less effort

I like walking best.

Urban, parks, country, hills and mountains, anywhere. I walk more and more, having started in lockdown.

Also swimming, gym work, Body Pump, dancing to things on the telly.

I do spin classes to keep my cardio up, but don’t really enjoy it.

Weight training.

You can do your own thing at your own pace at whatever time you like, unlike classes which I find can be a bit overwhelming.

You also get results very quickly. I love yoga and pilates but 3 weeks of weight training achieved more than a year plus of yoga. I still do yoga but for relaxation and flexibility.

This year I signed up for some PT sessions as I didn't have a clue and it's the best money I've ever spent.

It really depends what mood I’m in a lot of the time and also what the weather is like. I like the social side of running with a club and parkrun but sometimes it’s also just nice to escape everything and run on your own, it’s also taken me to places I probably would never have gone and I’ve made friends through it too. I like the gym because it doesn’t really involve any planning and I tend to lift weights there rather than do cardio……but if the weather is terrible I’d do gym cardio rather than run outside. I should go to Pilates more often but rarely manage to book before it fills up. I can’t do yoga, it stresses me out! Love a good spin class but sadly my gym only has terrible ones at the moment and I like a bootcamp / circuits type class that’s different every time too.

@doadeer I will definitely look into that, thanks!

Will also maybe wait to search for classes when we have moved, and stick to more simple stuff for the time being. Have found a very newbie styled pilates video and the barre workouts shall suffice for the moment.

I envy all of you who know your stuff and get so much out of it, I long to get moving after a rather depressed couple of years (covid, loss, job issues) becoming a bit weak and skinny-fat.

I love Group Fight (like Bodycombat, but better IMO). I teach and also go to class regularly. On the back of this class I’ve also signed up to Taekwondo classes!

I’ve made my peace with running only as far as I want to, then walking for a bit. Means I don’t put pressure on myself and I enjoy the scenery.

I’ve also just agreed to get back into rugby. I used to play, but at 49 I’ll now be sticking to coaching the 18 year old ladies! So lots of strength and endurance training as well as ball skills.

I do Pilates alongside running and walking. I don't run great distances, 5-10km at most, but I like running in new places and seeing things. I'm on holiday this week and last night we left our car at a local pub, and then ran the long way round to get it this morning. I love stuff like that. If I haven't got anything to look at while I'm running I get bored.

None at the moment. Shame.

I do a real mix and they all have their own benefits. I love a heavy weights session to make me feel strong and powerful. Spin gives me that endorphin rush of a high cardio rate and i
proves my overall fitness. Cold water swimming does wonders for my mental health and resilience. And I love the community feel to classes.

I don’t like any exercise but I have found some I don’t hate - body pump and Les mills Core. I do enjoy the way my back is better for having better core strength

I love running. Not because I particularly Love Running, but because I've met a great group of people doing it, and had a lot of fun doing events from 10km to marathons, all over the country and abroad. It was an absolute god send during the lockdowns when we allowed to meet one other person - it felt like I had a social life!

But it's not just about the people, it gets me out of the house in all weather (only solid ice keeps me in, anything else is fair game), and I know my local area inside out. I've discovered new footpaths, places and landmarks, and the changing seasons means it never gets dull.

Running 20-30 miles a week gives me 2000-3000 calories to play with too (cliche, I know, but I run for cake and wine!)

The running really is secondary to all that!

Martial arts, there is nothing else like it..physical exercise, self defence and promotes a healthy mind, body & spirit.

You're never too old, too unfit or too inflexible. Anyone can do it.

I like to do yoga and I recently decided to do walking workouts that are on YouTube and lead by a lady called Lesley.

I love yoga and I’ve been doing it regularly for over 10 years (in classes and at home) however, I’ve been working out at home with Jillian Michael’s 5 times a week since March 21 and the difference in my body shape is amazing!

I have nice toned arms and thighs and for the first time in my life (I’m 42) I look good in jeans! I have her app, there’s loads of programmes on there. I’d highly recommend it, she’s brilliant. For equipment, I bought dumbbells (2kg, 4, 6, 8kg), resistance bands and cables.

I love weights. I love functional training. I love being able to work my body and not have to cover distance.

this is really inspirational, thanks everyone!

I love hiking (cardio) and rock climbing (strength) but with a full time job and 2 young kids struggle to do either. So I do hiit instead. No where near as fun or enjoyable for me, but its only 30minutes 5 times a week and is better than nothing.

I'm another one that runs and does yoga. I love both for their meditative qualities, as well as loving the feeling of being strong. My regular in person teacher started doing online classes during lockdown and has kept with them alongside actual classes. Could you look for something like that if there are no local classes nearby?

Thanks to PP for the DownDog recommendation, I've just downloaded it and done a workout under a free trial and it's great. Will be subscribing after my free trial if all the workouts are that good. I've been doing Adrienne in between my regular classes and on non running days, but that app is loads better (not dismissing Adrienne at all, she was the one that got me into yoga in the first place!).